Plywood chair structure



Aug. 31, 1954 c. T. KONKLE I 2,687,768

PLYWOOD CHAIR STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 26, 1953 INVENTOR OLOYED T. KONKLE jW/W ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 31 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLYWOOD CHAIR STRUCTURE Oloyed T, Konkle, Montoursville, Pa. Application February 26, 1953, Serial No. 339,030

. 1 This invention consists in new and useful improvements in a chair structure and while it relates to chairs in general, it is more particularly concerned with chairs of the type used in schools, public buildings and similar institutions.

Chairs of this typeare subjected to extremely hard usage and because they are frequently moved from place to place it is important that their structures combine lightness and portability with a maximum of strength and rigidity. It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide such a chair structure with simplicity in design and attractive appearance, yet which will withstand prolonged hard use. 4

, Another object of the invention is to provide a chair so designed that the various elements thereof can be manufactured and assembled with a minimum of operations. To this end, in accord- ,ande with my invention, the forward legs and side seat supports of the chair are integrally formed and these elements, as well as the transverse, rear seat support, are preferably composed of suitable plywood strips which are out and molded to the desired shapes.

The conventional type of chair used in public schools and the like is either of mortise and tenon type construction or dowel construction and in some instances a combination of both. These types of fabrication are dependent upon glue to secure the joints which, as a result of hard usage, frequently crystallizes in a comparatively short time causing the joints to become loose and pull apart.

It is therefore a further object of my invention to provide a chair construction wherein mortise and tenon joints as well as dowel joints are completely eliminated, thus avoiding the objectionable features characteristic to these types of construction.

A sti11 further object of the invention is to provide a chair which is substantially made up of two groups of elements, respectively, pro-molded with common radii of curvature, at predetermined points so as to minimize manufacturing operations. One group comprises the front legs and integral side seat supports and the transverse seat support, while the other group comprises the seat proper and back rest.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of 1 Claim. (01. 155 19s) like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed and assembled in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the chair; and

Fig. 3 is a collective view showing premolded plywood sheets from which the respective groups of parts may be formed.

As best seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, my improved chair includes the usual basic elements consisting of front legs 5 and 6, rear legs 1 and 8 which are extended vertically to support a back rest 9 and finally the seat proper III. The novelt in the chair resides primarily in the particular formation of the front legs 5 and 6 and their relationship to the remainder of the chair structure.

Each of these front legs 5 and 6 is preferably formed of plywood strips which are bent rearwardly at their upper ends to form substantially right angularly disposed seat supports 5a-6a. The rear extremity of each of these seat supports is again bent downwardly at a suitable angle to engage the forward faces of the rear legs 1 and 8 respectively, in the form of connecting lugs 52) and 6b.

A transverse brace or support II which underlies the seat It, is also formed of a plywood str p, bent downwardly at an angle at each end to form connecting lugs 12, adapted to be secured to the opposed inner faces of the rear legs I and 8. Thus, the strip ll serves the dual purpose of a transverse brace for the rear legs as well as a support for the rear portion of the seat Ill.

The connecting lugs 5b and 6b are secured to the forward faces of the rear legs 1 and 8 by means of rivets 0r screws l3, while the connecting lugs [2 at the ends of the transverse support II, are similarly secured to the opposed faces of the legs a! and 3, by rivets or screws M. The seat to rests upon the upper surfaces of the supports 5a, 6a and II, to which it is respectively secured by rivets or screws [5 and It. Thus, transverse support between the front legs 5 and 6 and their respective extensions 5a and 6a, is aiforded by the seat itself.

The back rest 9 is secured to the forward faces of the rear legs I and 8 by means of rivets or screws I7, completing the assembly of the chair.

The main feature of my improved chair which facilitatesthe simplicity of construction and assembly and. adds to its attractive and graceful appearance, resides in the design of multiple parts having common radii at curvature. As will be seen in the drawings, the curvature at X, forming the juncture of the front legs, per se, and the rearwardly directed seat supports, as well as the curvature Y at the juncture of the seat supports and the rear leg connecting lugs, are of a common radius. This is also true of the curvatures Z at the junctures of the transverse seat support and its depending connecting lugs 12. It will be apparent that all of these elements can be formed ieither ;-individually or;. simultaneously on thesame wood bending of'forming equipment.

The same is true with respect to the back rest 9 and the seat H! which, as will be seen from Fig. 1, are provided with the same curvature andncan be out from the same sheet of plywood after it has been properly formed.

Although I do not intendtolconfin theinvention in this respect, it will be observed from'Fig. 3 that the front legs 5, 6 and integral: seat :supports a, Ga, as well as the transverse seat sup- -port H, can be .cut from one sheet of '[premolded or curved plywood and thatithe backrest .9 and -;seat lilrcan be similarlynproduced from a single sheet otpreformedplywood.

It will be apparent from the foregoing thatthis design not only affords simplicity in structure without'sacrificing rigidityand durability, but fa- -cilitates'mass production.- Furthermore, it greatly enhances the neat and attractive appearance of s the ehair,;especially for the type of use for which itisrdesigned.

I Fromthetoregoingitlis believed that my innparting :from therspiritnof. the invention as set forth in the following claim.

1 Islam: AA chair :construct'ed fromthree groups of plywoods:Icomponents;v one-of said groups compris- .azing a pair of; identical rear legs having vertically :extendedziback restisupports integral therewith; a

the brace lugs, being of common size and contour; 'andathird group, the components of "whichhavmbeen fabricated on a separate common form, and comprising a seat member and a separate back rest, curved transversely about a common radius; said seat support connecting lugs, :being vadapted 'to'v abut the :adjacent'rfaces of respective rear legs, means --connecting the :lugs to said --legs, :saidtransverse braces-being interposed betweenv said rear legs with tits-00nnectingi-lugs abutting respective legs,- means for .connecting said =1ast named lugs to saidlegs,

-:said. seat memberresting on andsecured to said aseat supports andbrace, andsaidback rest being -;se.cured to said back. rest supports.

Referencesflitedin the file of "this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 110,598 *smith Dec; 27,1870 $31 ,352 White Dec. 1', 1885 r 1,385,387 Morandi -J'u1y 26, 1 921 1,524,330 -Zinlrgrafet a1 -Jan.27, 1925 1,618,004 1 Ferris July 24, 1928 2,005,972 'Gallop June -25, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 1 Country Date 668 257 GreatBritain Mar. .12, 1952 

